TicketsHope everyone enjoyed the weekend. Happy to say I kicked it off hitting the links with Dan Hoard. I can only say we both spoke to our clubs as much as we did to each other and that's no knock on the conversation. Great times, though.
While I'm tangential on golf, let's quickly point out that anybody calling Webb Simpson a nobody or wondering if he'll be here to stay pays zero attention to the game. The dude made $6.35 million last year and was second on the money list only to Luke Donald. He nearly won the FedEx Cup. Number of players in the last five years to make more money than Simpson did in 2011? Four.
Now he adds a major. This is not a golfer coming out of nowhere for his first major. He's been one of the elite golfers in the world for the last 18 months. (*Wipes brow, steps off soapbox*)
All right, in case you are still reading, I'll jump into Bearcats stuff to reward you.
Let's eat...
--- Quick note: Congrats to former UC golfer Jim Herman, who qualified for the US Open. He ended up falling two shots shy of making the cut after shooting a 10-over par 150 the first two days.
--- Wanted to lead by pointing out Tony Campana is officially the top base stealer in MLB this season. He overtook the season lead with 23 swipes in 26 attempts. Dee Gordon of the Dodgers is second with 21.
Campana's 23 steals have come in 132 at-bats.
Of the 21 MLB players with more than 11 steals, only Rajai Davis of Toronto has done so with fewer at-bats (16 in 109).
Also, of those with more than 11 steals, how many have been more efficient than Campana? Only three and Alcides Escobar only attempted 13 steals.
Player Stl CS Stl%
Bonafacio 20 1 95.2%
Kipinis 17 1 94.4%
Escobar 12 1 92.3%
Campana 23 3 88.5%
Victorino 15 2 88.2%
Pierre 14 2 87.5%
Campana's steals lead is not just a matter of attempts, folks. He's one of the three scariest players in baseball to see on first base. Not bad for the kid whose constantly dinged for being too small.
--- Jon Rothstein could never be considered an enemy of the Bearcats (So much Mike DeCourcy in John Rothstein). He's one of the few national pundits who don't forget about UC and their contributions on the national stage. With his list of the top 10 glue guys for next season, he broke out the UC love again.
He ranked JaQuon Parker No. 2, calling him pound-for-pound the toughest player in college basketball. Rothstein also called this the best backcourt Mick Cronin's had with Cash, SK and Park around the outside.
Zero debate about the latter and I'll push hard for the former.
--- Jason Maxiell reaching a contractual crossroads on June 30, as the Detroit News points out. Interesting to see where he ends up. Hopefully he finds a way out of the exposure abyss of Detroit and into the rotation of a contender. Would love to see his beastiness in the playoffs.
--- Hey look, another publication doubts UC will contend for a championship. Again. This time it's Athlon following the trend seen every year in Clifton. Remarkable how little credence these magazines deserve considering how consistently wrong they've been the last five years.
For the record, last year Athlon picked UC to finish fifth, as well. Oh, and Louisville was selected dead last. Proceed with caution.
Also, for the record, Athlon placed Derek Wolfe on the third-team All-Big East last year ranking eight defensive linemen in the conference ahead of him.
--- Randomness...
--- Ordering 20 kindergartners to hit a classmate probably isn't the key to job security.
--- Less and less people are going to movies. Probably because not everyone wants to see comic book remakes over and over again. Or, I don't know, the lack of EVEN ONE original idea.
--- Joey Votto is putting together one of the great months this franchise has ever seen. And his season is headed in the same direction. CBSSports even calls it underrated considering the lack of pub it's receiving.
--- The heat wave coming through this week has me singing this song by Sublime. Great jam and under-appreciated band.
While I'm tangential on golf, let's quickly point out that anybody calling Webb Simpson a nobody or wondering if he'll be here to stay pays zero attention to the game. The dude made $6.35 million last year and was second on the money list only to Luke Donald. He nearly won the FedEx Cup. Number of players in the last five years to make more money than Simpson did in 2011? Four.
Now he adds a major. This is not a golfer coming out of nowhere for his first major. He's been one of the elite golfers in the world for the last 18 months. (*Wipes brow, steps off soapbox*)
All right, in case you are still reading, I'll jump into Bearcats stuff to reward you.
Let's eat...
--- Quick note: Congrats to former UC golfer Jim Herman, who qualified for the US Open. He ended up falling two shots shy of making the cut after shooting a 10-over par 150 the first two days.
--- Wanted to lead by pointing out Tony Campana is officially the top base stealer in MLB this season. He overtook the season lead with 23 swipes in 26 attempts. Dee Gordon of the Dodgers is second with 21.
Campana's 23 steals have come in 132 at-bats.
Of the 21 MLB players with more than 11 steals, only Rajai Davis of Toronto has done so with fewer at-bats (16 in 109).
Also, of those with more than 11 steals, how many have been more efficient than Campana? Only three and Alcides Escobar only attempted 13 steals.
Player Stl CS Stl%
Bonafacio 20 1 95.2%
Kipinis 17 1 94.4%
Escobar 12 1 92.3%
Campana 23 3 88.5%
Victorino 15 2 88.2%
Pierre 14 2 87.5%
Campana's steals lead is not just a matter of attempts, folks. He's one of the three scariest players in baseball to see on first base. Not bad for the kid whose constantly dinged for being too small.
--- Jon Rothstein could never be considered an enemy of the Bearcats (So much Mike DeCourcy in John Rothstein). He's one of the few national pundits who don't forget about UC and their contributions on the national stage. With his list of the top 10 glue guys for next season, he broke out the UC love again.
He ranked JaQuon Parker No. 2, calling him pound-for-pound the toughest player in college basketball. Rothstein also called this the best backcourt Mick Cronin's had with Cash, SK and Park around the outside.
Zero debate about the latter and I'll push hard for the former.
--- Jason Maxiell reaching a contractual crossroads on June 30, as the Detroit News points out. Interesting to see where he ends up. Hopefully he finds a way out of the exposure abyss of Detroit and into the rotation of a contender. Would love to see his beastiness in the playoffs.
--- Hey look, another publication doubts UC will contend for a championship. Again. This time it's Athlon following the trend seen every year in Clifton. Remarkable how little credence these magazines deserve considering how consistently wrong they've been the last five years.
For the record, last year Athlon picked UC to finish fifth, as well. Oh, and Louisville was selected dead last. Proceed with caution.
Also, for the record, Athlon placed Derek Wolfe on the third-team All-Big East last year ranking eight defensive linemen in the conference ahead of him.
--- Randomness...
--- Ordering 20 kindergartners to hit a classmate probably isn't the key to job security.
--- Less and less people are going to movies. Probably because not everyone wants to see comic book remakes over and over again. Or, I don't know, the lack of EVEN ONE original idea.
--- Joey Votto is putting together one of the great months this franchise has ever seen. And his season is headed in the same direction. CBSSports even calls it underrated considering the lack of pub it's receiving.
--- The heat wave coming through this week has me singing this song by Sublime. Great jam and under-appreciated band.